A 22-year-old woman died and five other people were injured after gunfire broke out early Sunday at a rave in northern Switzerland, officials said, prompting police to begin a major search for the person or people involved.
The attack took place in the Schachen district of Aarau, the capital of Switzerland’s Aargau canton, where “Aarau Rave VOL. 7” was taking place at a horse-racing track, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported.
Aargau cantonal police said the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Four men and one woman, ranging in age from 24 to 27, were transported to hospitals with wounds described as minor to serious.
Police said all six people shot were residents of Switzerland.
Police officers patrol a street in downtown Aarau, Switzerland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, after a shooting at a rave. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
Police spokesman Pascal Wenzel told SRF that authorities received reports of the shooting shortly after 2:30 a.m. The rave had been scheduled to finish at 2 a.m., SRF reported, citing details from the organizers’ website.
Investigators said no suspect had been identified, and the motive and full circumstances of the shooting remained unclear.
Police officers block a street near the Schachen horse-racing track in Aarau following a shooting at a rave event near Aarau, Switzerland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
A large area surrounding the horse-racing track, swimming pool and nearby sports field was cordoned off as police searched the area. Authorities also increased their presence elsewhere in Aarau as a precaution and urged members of the public to stay away.
Armed police officers patrol near the Schachen horse racing track in Aarau following a shooting during a rave event near Aarau, Switzerland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
The response included police officers, firefighters and several emergency medical services, according to SRF. The broadcaster reported that a cantonal disaster-response unit, the Argus police special unit and a Swiss military Super Puma helicopter were also involved.
Police in neighboring Germany were also assisting with the search as part of routine cross-border cooperation, a spokesman in Freiburg told the German news agency dpa, according to SRF.
Police appealed to witnesses to provide investigators with videos or photographs from the event and established an information line for relatives and eyewitnesses.
Armed police officers patrol near the Schachen horse racing track in Aarau following a shooting during a rave event near Aarau, Switzerland, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)
Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the rave, later wrote on Instagram that what happened was “absolutely heartbreaking” and said raves should be places of freedom and safety. He also said he had lost an “important friend,” though SRF reported that it was not clear whom he was referring to.
Police said their investigation and search operation remained ongoing.
